Cyclone Montha: Odisha begins evacuation, deploys over 5,000 personnel as storm nears

The Odisha government has begun evacuating residents from vulnerable areas as a deep depression in the Bay of Bengal is set to intensify into Cyclone Montha.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted on Sunday that the system is likely to strengthen into a severe cyclonic storm by Monday morning.

According to the IMD’s 9 pm bulletin, the deep depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards and was positioned about 790 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and 900 km south-southeast of Gopalpur (Odisha).

“The system is likely to move nearly west-northwestwards and intensify further into a cyclonic storm over the southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal during the next 12 hours,” the IMD said. It added that the cyclone could make landfall between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada on the evening or night of October 28 as a severe cyclonic storm.

Dr Manorama Mohanty, Director of the Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar, said the maximum sustained wind speed during landfall is expected to be between 90 and 100 kmph, gusting up to 110 kmph.

Although the landfall is expected near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh, about 200 km from Odisha’s Malkangiri, as many as 15 districts in Odisha are likely to be affected.

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said eight districts — Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Kandhamal, and Kalahandi — are expected to experience very heavy rainfall and strong winds. Red warnings predicting “extremely heavy rainfall and strong winds gusting up to 80 kmph” have been issued for these regions.

“As a precautionary measure, the state government has deployed over 5,000 highly skilled personnel in 24 teams of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), five teams from NDRF, and 99 Fire Service teams in these eight districts,” Pujari said. He added that all districts have been directed to prepare rescue teams and equipment in case the cyclone alters its trajectory.

The minister noted that landslides have become a new concern for the state. “As landslides have emerged as a new challenge in Odisha, additional measures have been taken in the vulnerable areas. People are being shifted from hilly areas,” he said. Gajapati District Collector Madhumita confirmed, “We have identified 139 places that are vulnerable to landslides.”

Twelve people had died in Gajapati during a landslide caused by Cyclone Titli in 2018. To prevent such incidents, the administration has deployed modern equipment in the district to clear roads in case of blockages.

The minister also mentioned that ‘sadhus’ living in hilly regions are being moved to safer areas, and the evacuation process will be completed by Monday evening. Pregnant women and the elderly are being relocated to hospitals and safe shelters.

Pujari said coastal district authorities have warned fishermen against venturing into the sea and urged those already at sea to return by Sunday. Loudspeakers and megaphones are being used to alert coastal communities.

The administrations of nine districts have cancelled the leaves of all government employees due to the emergency. Schools and Anganwadi centres will remain closed till October 30.

Meanwhile, the Puri administration has restricted tourist access to sea beaches from October 27 to 29 in view of the approaching cyclone.

Pujari said that rainfall will start on Monday, with the intensity of rain and wind expected to increase significantly on October 28 and 29. The IMD has hoisted Distant Cautionary Signal No-I (DC-1) at all Odisha ports and advised fishermen to stay away from the sea until October 29.